You’ve been asked to play the piccolo on your next ensemble concert, but you don’t know where to start. Instead of letting it stress you out, look at some of the best piccolo resources on the internet.
I’ve found many of these resources to be helpful as I started and as I’ve since improved my playing. Read on to learn about the best websites and tools for piccolo players.
1. Piccolo Fingering Chart
One of the most important piccolo resources to have is a good piccolo fingering chart. “But Hannah,” you say, “aren’t flute and piccolo fingerings the same?”
Yeah, a lot of the fingerings are the same, and that’s great. BUT there are quite a few fingerings that are different on the piccolo from the flute.
If you want to get serious about the piccolo, you need to know what those fingerings are and when to use them. Whether it’s a high B or some other tricky note, alternate fingerings are your best friend as a piccolo player.
2. Piccolo Drone
Another vital piccolo resource is a good drone to help you practice intonation. You can use a drone online or within most tuner apps and physical tuners.
The drone will allow you to play a stable pitch, and you can match your pitch to the drone. I wish I had done more of this work when I first started the piccolo, but it’s never too late to start.
Instead of relying on what your tuner says about your intonation, you can start to rely more on your ear. You need to do that when playing in an ensemble, so a drone is the perfect tool.
3. Piccolo Blog
I may be biased (actually, I am biased), but I’d recommend you follow a piccolo blog, like this very blog. There are a lot of musical instrument blogs and flute-specific blogs.
But I don’t know of a ton of blogs that focus on the piccolo. I’ve published over 100 articles just on the small flute and problems that us piccolo players are bound to face.
You can scroll through the archives to find answers to common questions and to learn about the best piccolo models. And if you want even more content, be sure to check back regularly.
4. National Flute Association
I’d also recommend that any flute and piccolo player join the National Flute Association (NFA). You don’t have to live in the US to join as there are tons of international members.
But being a member gives you a lot of perks, like access to online music libraries and even cheap instrument insurance. Of course, my favorite perk is the ability to attend the annual NFA Convention.
You can also participate in competitions, like the Piccolo Artist Competition. It’s one of the best flute and piccolo resources, plus, college students get a cheaper membership rate.
5. International Piccolo Flute Academy
I was lucky enough that both my undergraduate and graduate flute professors loved the piccolo. That made it super easy for me to get private lessons on the small instrument.
However, I know not everyone has that privilege, so that’s where the International Piccolo Flute Academy comes in. It’s a membership, and you’ll get access to tons of video lessons from some of the world’s top piccolo players for a low monthly fee.
I love how they also provide backing tracks to piccolo orchestral rep. That can be a great tool if you’re auditioning for your college’s orchestra or taking a professional audition.
6. YouTube
One of the best piccolo resources I used when I was learning the basics was YouTube. You can search for piccolo tutorials, reviews, and other helpful content.
I’ve found and watched tons of flute YouTubers who share a lot of great videos. Of course, the great thing about YouTube is that it’s totally free, so you can watch as little or as much content as you want.
Some YouTubers also have paid services. So if you like someone’s style, you may be able to take a course or study privately with them to learn even more.
7. Facebook Groups
I know, Facebook is for old people, but it’s really not. Anyone can benefit from creating a Facebook profile and joining a few flute and piccolo groups, such as:
- Flute Forum
- Piccolo Page
- ALL THINGS PICCOLO
These groups have frequent posts from members. In the group, you can ask questions and get answers from more experienced player regarding piccolo models, playing techniques, and more.
Search for flute groups on Facebook to find even more to join. Then, you can interact with the community in each group, and you can learn new things each day.
Final Thoughts
Some of the best piccolo resources are free, while others cost money. Regardless of the pricing, I’d recommend you check out a few different resources based on your needs and goals.
That way, you can set yourself up for a successful future of playing the piccolo and flute.
And if you’re looking for even more resources and recommendations, check out my favorites!